The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[Skippy]

I meant the Wrestling Observer

Me.

I don't see what you're moaning at, it's reporting news that's most probably true

It's reporting rumours that have already been reported and adding a couple more bits anyone with half a brain can guess. Which is how the dirt sheets work.The World and Divas titles will be defend? Of course they will. There'll be a Money in the Bank? Nobody has a briefcase atm so that makes sense.

None of it is news. Someone makes up a rumour, one site publishes, then another and another until it's circulated around enough times that everyone believes it. Then when something else happens they blame a last minute change on the part of the bookers.

Sources inside WWE tell us that the current plan is to have Daniel Bryan drop the World Heavyweight Championship at Elimination Chamber to Wade Barrett, allowing his feud with Randy Orton to go forward into Wrestlemania.

It's that simple

[KK]

I don't know how much of what Meltzer & company write is true (the news to opinion ratio has changed over the years - there's now more opinion pieces) but there's no doubting how well connected Dave actually is. If they're speaking to him publicly, they're damn sure speaking to him privately.

Take for example what appeared in the WO recently about Velvet Sky. He claimed what was being said on TV is actually what the company genuinely thinks of her. She then went on Twitter & denied it, & said he was talking nonsense. At the end of the day, it's his word against hers. But then, what we can deduce is that for whatever reason she's taken an extended leave of absence from TV. Coincidence? Possibly.

[Mafro]

I meant the Wrestling Observer

Me.

I don't see what you're moaning at, it's reporting news that's most probably true

It's reporting rumours that have already been reported and adding a couple more bits anyone with half a brain can guess. Which is how the dirt sheets work.The World and Divas titles will be defend? Of course they will. There'll be a Money in the Bank? Nobody has a briefcase atm so that makes sense.

None of it is news. Someone makes up a rumour, one site publishes, then another and another until it's circulated around enough times that everyone believes it. Then when something else happens they blame a last minute change on the part of the bookers.

Sources inside WWE tell us that the current plan is to have Daniel Bryan drop the World Heavyweight Championship at Elimination Chamber to Wade Barrett, allowing his feud with Randy Orton to go forward into Wrestlemania.

It's that simple

Isn't that basically similar to what you're doing at Yahoo just now? Reporting what other people have reported and adding a bit more?

Have you ever seen an issue of Wrestling Observer, just out of curiosity? I'd be shocked if any of the rumours are made up. Dave Meltzer is easily the most prominent and well respected MMA and pro wrestling journalists, he's not the kind of person to come out with bullshit.

[Skippy]

At Yahoo at least we actually report genuine news (albeit tabloid-grade gooseberry fool news most of the time but at least its news), not guesswork.

[Jam-Master Jay]

Based on early talk, here’s what looks to be the tentative card for WrestleMania 28 so far:

The Rock vs. John Cena - The atmosphere alone should make it a great bout.

WWE Title Match
CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho - Looking forward to this more than any other, so I hope they decide to go with these two for the title.

Triple H vs. The Undertaker - Meh. Love 'Taker. I'd actually rather watch Orton wrestle than suffer through more of Triple H.

Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal - I'd imagine this would be a big thing in the States. For me it's just two big men and bound to be botcherific.

World Heavyweight Title Match (Orton v Henry, no doubt) - God I hope not. It'd be watch-able if Henry is rebuilt as a monster again and/or if Bryan is added to the mix.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match (presumably a mix of Raw and Smackdown) - If it's back at 'Mania I'll be a happy chappy. Hopefully no MITB PPV this year.

Divas Match (Beth vs whoever) -

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

[sw26]

I've been watching some 1998 shows I missed out on back in the day/have long since forgotten about recently, and my overriding impression is how awesome generic production theme music was back then:

[KK]

You also have to factor in that a lot of what is said on 'the big 4' - i.e. the ones that actually get the news - is then twisted to mean something completely different on various free wrestling websites.

The news in the likes of the Wrestling Observer & PWTorch is most likely genuine, but you've got to remember the various sources, whether that be script writers, head office, the wrestlers, disgruntled former employees, may be skewed for own personal gain or personal grudge. But then that's true of many things.

I've been watching some 1998 shows I missed out on back in the day/have long since forgotten about recently, and my overriding impression is how awesome generic production theme music was back then

I'd take all the production themes & in-house produced music over the licensed stuff any day of the week. It was great to see it return last year for the likes of Money in the Bank & Capitol Punishment.

[A J Styles]

Went to watch TNA tonight which was amazing, really impressed with and Sting/Hogan wrestled!

[Drumstick]

That Severn theme.





I always felt Vince was fantastic when he voiced over these as well:

[Mockmaster]

Went to watch TNA tonight which was amazing, really impressed with and Sting/Hogan wrestled!

You have got to give us more than that buddy.

[Mockmaster]

I always felt Vince was fantastic when he voiced over these as well:

Yeah, he was great. Listening to the '92 Rumble Review-a-Wai reminded me how effective it would be if they showed a package with some of the Rumble entrants at the start of the show, saying how they plan to win The Rumble or what their motivations are. They haven't done that in years.

[KK]

I suppose if we break down aspects of the Observer...

For Against All Odds on 2/12, the main event will not be finalized until the London tapings this week. From television, the main event would appear to either be a three-way with Roode vs. Storm vs. Hardy, or a four-way adding Bully Ray.

Speculation based on the direction of television.

Some PPV changes, and apparently every week these changes are made so this could change as well.

Could be sourced from those within WWE, or could simply be based on the WWE publicly announced schedules - which are indeed all over the show.

Rock is also at this point scheduled for the 3/12 Raw in Cleveland. They are also advertising HHH for that show, but I'm thinking HHH will be on most shows building up his match with Undertaker starting next week when he returns to do the job review segment with Laurinaitis in Kansas City.

Clearly what is Meltzer's opinion - & I've seen this happen all the time - will then be reported elsewhere as "Triple H will be back next week to commence feuding with Undertaker". When this doesn't happen, it then looks like the WO made it up.

We were told this past week that the current Mania plan does include one Money in the Bank match where the winner would be able to challenge either the world champion or the WWE champion at any time.

Could be sourced from within WWE, but could be an educated guess based on previous MITB matches at WrestleMania.

The Cody Rhodes vs. Dustin Rhodes angle which was at one point set for Rumble, which they started and then stopped, is now said to be being looked at for the Elimination Chamber PPV.

Could be sourced from within WWE, but the Cody Rhodes vs. Dustin Rhodes match did seem like the direction from TV - thus was reported as happening - but didn't so he's now claiming it'll happen at EC. Now, this could be the actual plan, & this indeed could change, but you could just as easily say the WWE changed their minds even though it was never on the agenda in the first place. At the end of the day, I'm not in a position to claim one way or another.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation, based in Phoenix, has dedicated a WWE themed conference room in their global offices. In making the dedication, they noted that Cena has granted more wishes than any celebrity, and is on pace to hit the 300 mark.

Factual news.

[Dark Ritual]

WON often get it fairly quite close to accurate. You have to remember that WWE are quite paranoid about this and have a habit of changing angles if they leak, even to their own detriment, to "swerve" the internet.

That said, things always go wrong around this time of the year, as WWE changes things a lot in the run up to RR. I've heard things from D-Bry carrying to to WM to losing it at RR, losing it at EC....

[Rog]

So the Royal Rumble is this Sunday..........

WWE Royal Rumble
John Cena vs. Kane
Winner (worth 2):
CM Punk (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler - John Laurinaitus as special referee
Winner (worth 3):
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Mark Henry vs. Big Show - Triple Threat Steel Cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Winner (worth 3)
30 man Royal Rumble
Winner (worth 5):
Person to spend most time in the rumble
Prediction:
Person to spend least time in the rumble
Prediction:
Person to get most eliminations
Prediction:
7th entrant
Prediction:
30th entrant
Prediction:
The final four (name only four, one point for each correct)
Predictions:
Predict Mick Foley's entry number:
Prediction:

[Drumstick]

1st entrant was confirm as The Miz this week.

[Mockmaster]

Maybe change it to 2nd Entrant?

[Hank Scorpio]

WWE Royal Rumble
John Cena vs. Kane
Winner (worth 2): John Cena
CM Punk (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler - John Laurinaitus as special referee
Winner (worth 3): CM Punk
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Mark Henry vs. Big Show - Triple Threat Steel Cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Winner (worth 3): Mark Henry
30 man Royal Rumble
Winner (worth 5): Chris Jericho
Person to spend most time in the rumble
Prediction: Sheamus
Person to spend least time in the rumble
Prediction: Santino
Person to get most eliminations
Prediction: Brodus Clay
7th entrant
Prediction: Jack Swagger
30th entrant
Prediction: The Undertaker
The final four (name only four, one point for each correct)
Predictions: The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Kane
Predict Mick Foley's entry number:
Prediction: 14

Some massively random guesses

[KK]

Never have agreed with Dave Meltzer's view, or readers of the Wrestling Observer for that matter, that Gorilla Monsoon was a crap commentator though. For 6 years Gorilla Monsoon was voted 'Worst Television Announcer'. In 1997 it went to the sheer brilliance that was Dusty "He's got a bicycle!" Rhodes.

[Mafro]

WWE Royal Rumble
John Cena vs. Kane
Winner (worth 2): John Cena
CM Punk (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler - John Laurinaitus as special referee
Winner (worth 3): CM Punk
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Mark Henry vs. Big Show - Triple Threat Steel Cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Winner (worth 3): Mark Henry
30 man Royal Rumble
Winner (worth 5): Chris Jericho
Person to spend most time in the rumble
Prediction: Wade Barrett
Person to spend least time in the rumble
Prediction: Heath Slater
Person to get most eliminations
Prediction: Sheamus
1st entrant
Prediction: Miz
30th entrant
Prediction: Cody Rhodes
The final four (name only four, one point for each correct)
Predictions: Jericho, Orton, Barrett, Rhodes
Predict Mick Foley's entry number:
Prediction: 16

[Mockmaster]

CM Punk calls Beth Phoenix a douchebag and alludes to how she changed during their relationship. Doesn't really elaborate. I'm surprised he went that far though. Interviewers are quite annoying.